For the second week of Drink 8 to Hydrate, make it a priority to add one extra glass of water per day to your meal plan. Here are a few suggestions for your extra glass:

• Have a cup of decaf tea – before or after your morning coffee, as an afternoon treat, or after dinner.
• Have a glass of water before, during, and after each meal.
• Fill a water bottle and challenge yourself to drink it before your next meeting at work.
• Sip on water while watching the news or your favorite show.

See all of the reasons why water is a better choice than soda, and don’t forget to track your water intake this week!

If you haven’t already, follow this link to report last week’s water intake now!

 

Wat-er you waiting for?! Start tracking your water intake TODAY for Drink 8 to Hydrate! 

Track your water whatever way is easiest for you – your favorite app, a diary, a tally list, or the Drink 8 to Hydrate Tracker we provide!

Throughout the challenge, be sure to report your weekly water intake online at this survey. If you prefer, you will be able to submit your challenge tracker at Wellness Wednesday on September 7 rather than submitting your water intake online. At the end of the challenge, 8 random winners will be chosen out of those who submit all 4 weeks of data.

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Week 1 Hydration Tip:

Start planning for how you will increase your fluid intake throughout this 4-week Drink 8 to Hydrate challenge. Thinking ahead will help you stay on track for your 8 glasses of water per day! Try these tips to make water a tastier option:

• Try adding a fruit – something sweet like berries, or kiwi, or something citrus like lemon, lime, or orange.
• Try adding a vegetable or an herb – this may sound strange, but cucumber, basil, and mint are delicious!
• Experiment with water temperature – maybe ice cold water isn’t for you. Try warm water with a drop of lemon or honey.
• Enjoy water as tea – hot or cold.

Despite knowing that water is necessary for health and wellbeing, 75% of Americans are chronically dehydrated! See The Miracle That is Water infographic for all of the benefits of water, and don’t forget to track your water intake this week.

The Road to Rio ends just in time for the real Rio games to start! Congratulations to all of our teams who completed this year’s walking challenge! Our winners include:

• Grand Prize: The Cleaning Divers
• Best Olympic Themed Team Name: The Brazilian Nuts; Red, White, and Bruised; and Kicking Assets & Taking Names!
• Most Improved: The Road Runners
• Highest Average, Week 1: The Badminton Birdies

Road to Rio and Mission SLIMpossible participants, please save the date and join us for a Wellness Celebration Event – for YOU! Anyone who completed either challenge is invited to celebrate their wellness adventure! Join us at one of the celebrations for refreshments and to collect your challenge certificate:

• Monday, August 15th: Ellis Hospital, Dining Rooms 1 & 2, 12:00pm-1:00pm
• Thursday, August 18th: MSHC, Bonavita Room, 12:00pm-1:00pm

Can you believe August is just around the corner?! We can’t! And while we’re sad to see the last month of summer, we are excited to host two new activities in early August: Drink 8 to Hydrate, and a hands-on Self-Defense Class!

Drink 8 to Hydrate is an easy 4-week challenge to encourage good hydration habits. At the end of the challenge, participants will be entered into a raffle with 8 chances to win! The challenge begins on August 8!

The Self-Defense Class is a 3-hour hands on class taking place at MSHC on August 9. View more information about this great opportunity on the Self-Defense page.

Please join Healthy MEE in one or both activities! Registration is required for both activities:

• Register for Drink 8 to Hydrate
• Register for Self-Defense Workshop

Congratulations to a new recipient of Healthy MEE’s Mind, Body & Spirit Award, Mike Brownell! Follow the link to read more about Mike’s story, and for more information on the award, or to nominate someone you know who has made a positive lifestyle change.

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Visit the Make a Healthy MEE Food Choice page for new updates on the program and the food environment at Ellis Medicine! Do you have feedback? Please email wellness@ellismedicine.org!

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Don’t forget – Drink 8 to Hydrate begins on August 8! Summer is here and it’s important to stay hydrated during these warm times. Register today for this simple individual 4-week challenge. Participants will be eligible to win one of eight raffle prizes!